Car wash to benefit Brandon pedestrian killed by SUV

BRANDON — During his life, Antoine Brown — known as “Ricardo” to everyone he knew — went out of his way to make his customers and co-workers smile.

“He would always be dancing around the store like nobody was watching,” said Kimberly Dickson, who worked with Brown at the K-Mart on State Road 60. “Ricardo was an amazing man who would do anything for anybody.”

Brown, 29, was struck by an SUV while crossing Lakewood Drive on the night of Sept. 20. He died the next morning.

Some of his co-workers will come together on Saturday to host a benefit for the loved ones he left behind. Dickson said about 30 of Brown’s former colleagues will take part in the Ricardo Brown Memorial Car Wash at the K-Mart parking lot between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“We’re going to be taking donations,” Dickson said. “Even if people can only give $1, it’ll be a help to the family.”

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Cristal Bermudez Nuñez said Brown’s death was an accident and no criminal charges will be brought against William H. Williams, 45, the driver of the Nissan.

A native of Detroit, Brown and his family moved to Florida in 2003, according to his mother, Rosemary Sledge. Brown was born with cerebral palsy, which largely affected the left side of his body.

“I babied him a little because I’m his mom, but he was always very independent,” Sledge said. “The way I thought of him, and the way he saw it, he was equal to everyone else.”

Brown leaves behind mom Rosemary, stepfather Norris Sledge Jr., and siblings Norris III, Dajae and Brittany. He was sharing an apartment in Brandon with Norris III at the time of his death.

Rosemary said Brown’s dream was to create video games and, to that end, he’d taken some computer classes.

“He loved video games, and he loved mom’s cooking,” she said. “He was sweet, considerate and very trusting.